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Predominately/Predominantly 1
- Thread starter Dimandja
- Start date
sleipnir214
Programmer
Predominate is a verb. Predominant is an adjective. I find both parts of speech useful.
Entries at YourDictionary:
predominate
predominant
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TANSTAAFL!!
Entries at YourDictionary:
predominate
predominant
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
- Thread starter
- #3
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- #4
CajunCenturion
Programmer
I think sleipnir214 makes a good point. The two root words are not interchangeable since they are different parts of speech. Predominate is correct when a verb is called for and predominant is correct as an adjective.
As to which adverb form (predominately or predominantly), my preference would be based on what the adverb is modifying. If the adverb is modifying a verb or another adverb, then I would use predominately (verb root), but if the adverb is modifying an adjective, I would prefer to use predominantly (adjective root).
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
As to which adverb form (predominately or predominantly), my preference would be based on what the adverb is modifying. If the adverb is modifying a verb or another adverb, then I would use predominately (verb root), but if the adverb is modifying an adjective, I would prefer to use predominantly (adjective root).
Good Luck
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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
sleipnir214
Programmer
I provided links to show that one of the words is a verb and the other an adjective, not to give definitions.
It's not a matter of preference, as the two words are not interchangeable. Although "predominate" can be used as an adjective, "predominant" cannot be used as a verb.
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It's not a matter of preference, as the two words are not interchangeable. Although "predominate" can be used as an adjective, "predominant" cannot be used as a verb.
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TANSTAAFL!!
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- #7
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- #9
sleipnir214
Programmer
That site actually agreeing with me.
Wait...
I'm sorry, I was assuming facts not in evidence. I was taught that in formal English when forming an adverb by adding "ly" to a base word, that base word must, with few exceptions, be an adjective.
Taking that datum in to account, "predominantly" is the most-correct form, as it is an adverb formed from an adjective.
So that site is agreeing with me. "Predominantly" makes more sense.
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TANSTAAFL!!
Wait...
I'm sorry, I was assuming facts not in evidence. I was taught that in formal English when forming an adverb by adding "ly" to a base word, that base word must, with few exceptions, be an adjective.
Taking that datum in to account, "predominantly" is the most-correct form, as it is an adverb formed from an adjective.
So that site is agreeing with me. "Predominantly" makes more sense.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
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1
- #11
From World Wide Words:
"There’s been a lot of scholarly argument about the relative merits of these two words down the years, most of it directed at the linked adjectives, predominate and predominant. Some usage writers have condemned the former as illiterate, arguing that it can only be a verb, never an adjective. History is against all such critics, because predominate as an adjective first appeared as far back as 1591, and is actually older than the verb. The spelling of the adverb as predominately is about a hundred years older than the predominantly form. Predominantly and its related adjective are now much the more common forms, though that doesn’t make the other pair wrong, just less often preferred alternatives." (emphasis mine).
Susan
"'I wish life was not so short,' he thought. 'Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.'"
- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lost Road
"There’s been a lot of scholarly argument about the relative merits of these two words down the years, most of it directed at the linked adjectives, predominate and predominant. Some usage writers have condemned the former as illiterate, arguing that it can only be a verb, never an adjective. History is against all such critics, because predominate as an adjective first appeared as far back as 1591, and is actually older than the verb. The spelling of the adverb as predominately is about a hundred years older than the predominantly form. Predominantly and its related adjective are now much the more common forms, though that doesn’t make the other pair wrong, just less often preferred alternatives." (emphasis mine).
Susan
"'I wish life was not so short,' he thought. 'Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.'"
- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lost Road
- Thread starter
- #12
>So that site is agreeing with me. "Predominantly" makes more sense.
No, it doesn't.
It says "so though both forms are widely accepted, “predominantly” makes more sense."
Hence my question. Why?
Also, both forms are used interchangeably (according to the same site). Hence my other question. Which do you prefer?
I really thought this would be a simple question. We've been through these hoops, only to get back to the OP.
No, it doesn't.
It says "so though both forms are widely accepted, “predominantly” makes more sense."
Hence my question. Why?
Also, both forms are used interchangeably (according to the same site). Hence my other question. Which do you prefer?
I really thought this would be a simple question. We've been through these hoops, only to get back to the OP.
CajunCenturion
Programmer
I think it is a fairly simple question, but there is no definitive right or wrong answer. You asked for peoples preferences, and I think several posts have provided reasonable answers explaining their preferences and why.
Good Luck
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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
- Thread starter
- #14
kmcginn
Programmer
- Apr 6, 2004
- 102
I prefer predominantly. I think it sounds more correct (I know that's not a good basis for being correct!).
I thnk when the words are spoken, most people don't even realize there is a difference - their sounds are very close. It is only in writing that people would even realize the difference exists.
I thnk when the words are spoken, most people don't even realize there is a difference - their sounds are very close. It is only in writing that people would even realize the difference exists.
- Thread starter
- #16
You're right, kmcginn. I never suspected there was a difference until many years after I started speaking English. Then I started seeing it written one way or the other without any rhyme or reason.
I always prefered "predominantly" because it sounded better -- not a grammatical justification though.
I always prefered "predominantly" because it sounded better -- not a grammatical justification though.
![[dragon]](/data/assets/smilies/dragon.gif "[dragon] [dragon]")
- Thread starter
- #18
sleipnir214
Programmer
Dimandja:
You asked for a preference. Then you gave a star to someone who quoted a site.
From that I can only infer that you weren't looking for preferences, but for corroborating materials.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
You asked for a preference. Then you gave a star to someone who quoted a site.
From that I can only infer that you weren't looking for preferences, but for corroborating materials.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
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- #20
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